Monza: Post-qualifying quotes

Dirk MÃœLLER, BMW Team Deutschland pole position
"I am very pleased to be starting the first WTCC face from pole. It feels really
great. The team gave me a perfect car. We repeated the times we had set two
weeks ago during the official testing,...

Dirk MÜLLER, BMW Team Deutschland pole position

"I am very pleased to be starting the first WTCC face from pole. It feels really
great. The team gave me a perfect car. We repeated the times we had set two
weeks ago during the official testing, however we were eighth tenths slower than
last year's pole because the track was not perfect today. There were wet spots
and the grip was just not there. It was a big change to go from wets in the
practice sessions to slicks in qualifying."

Antonio GARCÍA, BMW Team Italy-Spain 2nd fastest

"It was so difficult to get a clear lap because there were lots of cars on the track.
We also had planned to play the slipstreaming game. It worked with me, but
when we swapped positions, the red flag stopped the session. I'm sorry for
Alessandro (Zanardi), because I'm sure he could have improved a lot and been
closer to the top."

Mario THEISSEN, BMW Motorsport Director:

"It was a strong showing by Dirk and Antonio. In all the teams, we could see how
the drivers were taking each other into their slipstream, and that worked pretty
well for us. This is a good starting position for the race. Now we will have to wait
and see what the track conditions are like on Sunday and how the cars perform
in racing trim."

Gabriele TARQUINI, Alfa Romeo Racing Team 3rd fastest

"This was a surprise result, because at the testing two weeks ago the car was
very very competitive, but track conditions were completely different then. We
suffered a lot today. BMW have made a good step forward. We will see
tomorrow, with a dryer track and more grip it may be a better result for us. I hope
so."

Jordi GENÉ, SEAT Sport - 7th fastest

"The chassis set-up is fantastic; I'm very happy with the work we did here two
weeks ago, although I had some slight problems with the brakes which obviously
cost me a little time. I have to say, however, that I'm happy with 7th place and
I'm confident for the races. I won't say I'm over-optimistic, but I thought the best
we could hope for from Monza would be to score some points. Maybe I can get
even more than that tomorrow."

"I am very happy, I did not expect that I would be the first independent driver. I
am already very proud to be a part of the first world championship. My qualifying
position is unbelievable. I don't want to think about my race results, anything can
happen. First I want to get through the first corner and then we will see."

Roberto COLCIAGO, JAS Motorsport 14th fastest

"I am a bit upset, because we were aiming for something more than this
position. As a matter of fact I had managed to clock the eighth fastest time, but
the Stewards decided to penalise me because I drove a bit over the kerbs. I
don't think I deserved it, as a lot of other drivers were doing the same."

Jörg MÜLLER, BMW Team Deutschland 18th position

"Nothing works out as you had planned, because Dirk and I had planned to take
it in turns to get a slipstream. However, with so many cars on the track we could
not stay together, and I was lucky to get slipstream on three straights."

Rob HUFF, Chevrolet 21st fastest

"It was a fantastic lap. I was hooked up, the car was hooked up and it just
worked out fine. I'm very pleased with that lap. Unfortunately the red flag came
out just before the end of the session for Alain's off. A pity, because I was on an
even faster lap. We are running a stiffer set-up now than we did in March, which
has made the car much more predictable."

Hans HOTFIEL, Ford Hotfiel Sport team principal

"Our cars have only just been completed. We were running late - in fact, much
later than expected. Both the gear ratios and the latest engine specification
only arrived in Monza on Friday afternoon. Our mechanics had to work all through
the night just to complete the cars."